Mortar and mount



g- 1950 G. B. DAVIS, JR., EI'AL 2,518,452

MORTAR AND MOUNT Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4Sheets-Sheet l EDGAR [3-RUBERTEI,

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MORTAR AND MOUNT Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 QIWMVW EDGAR ELREIEERTE,

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MORTARAND MOUNT Filed Jan. 2, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 E 0 EA E RUEIE TE,

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Patented Aug. 15, 1950 UNITE S ATENT OFFICE MORTAR AND MOUNT George B. Davis, Jr., Washington, D. 0., and Edgar C. Roberts, Arlington, Va.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370 0.. G. 757) 2 Claims.

The invention described herein may be manufactored and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to mortars.

An object of the invention is to provide a universal type mortar in which the barrel is made in sections so that the gunner may connect the proper number of barrel sections for obtaining a desired range of fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal type bipod, the legs of which may be extended or retracted to function with any number of barrel sections selected, without making mechanical alterations therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a universal type blpod, the legs of which may be extended or retracted to function as acoarse elevation adjuster fo each selected number of barrel sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bipod having separately adjustable extensible legs to provide for easy leveling of a mortar on hillsides.

A further object of the invention is to provide means for quickly cross-leveling the mortar.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a series of grooves in the outer circumference of the barrel to reduce the weight and aid cooling.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a, coarse elevation adjusting mechanism whereby a mortar barrel may be quickly mounted at a, close approximation of the desired angle of fire, and a fine elevation adjusting mechanism for completing the operation.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a, cross leveling mechanism having a coarse and a fine adjusting means for quickly and accurately laying the gun.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a sectional barrel which may be separated and made up into small carrying loads.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description,

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mortar and mount embodying my invention, wherein, one barrel is in use,

Figures 2 and 2A are side elevational views showing three barrel sections in use,

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the bipod showing its legs retracted.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of one leg of the biped showing the clamping means for securing the extensible leg member, taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary longitudinal section through one of the extensible legs of the bipod,

Figure 6 is a horizontal section taken on the line 66 of Figure 3 showing the pivotal connection of the upper end of the legs of the bipod,

Figure '7 is a longitudinal section through the guide tube to show the elevating screw,

Figure 8 is a, longitudinal section through the extensible connecting rod by means of which cross-leveling is facilitated, and,

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the leg clamp taken on the line 99 of Figure 3.

In the drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a, preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a, mortar barrel. The barrel 5 is shown as comprising three sections 6, l and 8, but it is to be understood that any suitable number of sections may be used, depending upon the desired range.

Each barrel section is connected to adjacent sections by an extension forming a sleeve 9 having a split portion 10. Lugs l l are formed on the split portion l0 and receive a clamping screw 52.

When it is desired to transport the mortar the barrel is broken down to make up separate loads, and in order to lighten these loads each barrel section is grooved at 13 to form ribs E5 in the outer circumference thereof. A portion of each barrel section at one end, is left smooth as at M to receive its connecting sleeve 9. The grooves is are spaced longitudinally to form ribs l5 which serve as cooling fins. In the drawing the grooves l3 are shown cut helically by a screwthread cutter for convenience and speed of production but they may be cut as separate parallel rooves if desired.

The barrel section 6, at its lower end, is received in a base cap 5 carrying a projection l! which rests in a seat l8 in a base plate 9. The base plate may be of conventional design and forms no part of the invention.

A bipod 20 of improved construction is attachable to the barrel 5 at any desired location to obtain a desired angle of fire with one, two, or three barrel sections.

For the sake of clarity it might be well to state that the bipod comprises means for coarse and fine adjustment of the barrel in elevation, coarse and fine adjustment in cross-leveling, a transversing mechanism and means for pivotally attaching the bipod to the gun, all in addition to its two legs.

Coarse adjustment of elevation is accomplished by lengthening or shortening identical telescopic legs pivoted at 22 to bosses 45 formed on a guide tube 23 to be later described.

Each leg 2| of the bipod comprises a tubular section 24 for housing an extensible leg member 25 slidable in the tubular section.

At its upper end each tubular leg section 24 carries a yoke 26 whose arms 2'1 are apertured to receive the pivot elements 22.

At its lower end each tubular leg section 24 carries a clamp 28 threaded thereon, each clamp having a split portion 29, clearly shown in Figures 4 and 5. The split portion 29 slidably receives the extensible leg member 25 and is forced into frictional contact therewith by a clamping screw 30. Lugs 3| on the split portion are formed with slots 32 to receive the screw 30. Recesses 33 in the outer faces of the lugs 3| receive nuts 34 which are provided with right and left hand threads for engagement with similar threads on the respective ends of the clamping screw 35. Each nut 34 is staked to its adjacent lug 3| by any means such as a screw 55. A handle 36 is formed on the clamping screw 30 whereby the clamping device may be quickly operated.

At its lower end each extensible leg member 25 carries an anchoring foot 31, ap-ertured lugs 37' on each foot receive the ends of an adjustable connecting element 38, such as a chain for holding the legs 2| in a desired angular position relative to each other and to the guide tube 23. A spring 39, included in the connecting element, is attached to one lug 31', and a chain hook 38' is attached to the other lug 31 for engagement with a selected link of the connecting element.

Fine adjustment of elevation is accomplished by screw-threaded means housed within the guide tube 23.

Referring to Figure 7 it will be seen that the guide tube 23 is enlarged at its upper end to form a gear casing 4| in which are housed meshing bevel gears A2 and &3. Suitable openings are formed in the gear case for inserting the gears 42 and 43 and said openings are closed by covers 54 and 55 respectively. The cover 45 serves also as a bearing for an elongated hub 56 of gear 42, which hub is extended to receive one end of a crank ll for rotating said gear.

The cover 45 serves as a bearing for an elongated hub 43 of gear 43. A hollow drive shaft 59 is rotatably mounted within the guide tube 23 and is secured at one end to the bevel gear 43. At the other end the drive shaft 49 screw-threadedly receives a nut 50. The nut 58 is screwthreadedly secured to an elevating screw which is located centrally of the guide tube 23. A pin 52 locks the drive shaft, the nut and the elevating screw against separation during use.

A hollow extensible spindle 53 is slidably received inside the drive shaft 49 and surrounds the elevating screw 5|. At its end adjacent the nut 50 the hollow spindle 53 is screw-threaded, as at 54, to engage the elevating screw 5|. A cap 53 for excluding dirt seals the outer end of spindle 53.

A coupling 54 is secured to the outer end of the spindle 53 by a clamping member 55. A conventional traversing mechanism 56 is supported in the coupling 54 in such manner that its longitudinal axis is always normal to the longitudinal axis of the guide tube 23.

Pivotally mounted on the traversing mecha nism 55 is a yoke 57 to which a saddle 58 is secured for pivotally attaching the bipod 25 to the mortar barrel 5. A clamping collar 59 operably connected to the saddle 58 completes the attaching means whereby the bipod is secured to the barrel. The specific details of the fine elevation means are of conventional form and consti tute no part of the present invention.

An improved cross-leveling mechanism is shown in Figures 3 and 8 connected to the guide tube 23 and to one leg 2| of the bipod. A clamp 60 similar in construction to the clamp 28 is slidably mounted on one leg 2| of the bipod, and through the use of its oppositely threaded screw BI and handle $2 the clamp is quickly adjusted longitudinally of the said leg 2| for coarse adjustment of cross-leveling.

Lugs 63 on the clamp 60 receive a pivot element 64 of a longitudinally adjustable connecting rod 65 whereby fine adjustment of cross-leveling is accomplished. The connecting rod comprises a hollow sleeve 66 internally threaded at 51 to receive the enlarged right-hand threaded end of a screw 68. The screw 58 has secured thereto a head 69 having an eye for receiving the pivot element 64. The sleeve 66 is internally threaded at 19 to receive the enlarged left-hand threaded end of a screw H. The screw ll has secured thereto a head 12 similar to the head 59 and having an eye for receiving a pivot element 13 in an anchoring sleeve M fixed to the guide tu 23.

Dust caps 15 are screw-threadedly connected to both ends of the sleeve 55 and have apertures for slidably receiving the screws 58 and 7|.

The sleeve 66 has recesses 76 which may be engaged by a spanner wrench or other suitable tool for rotating the sleeve. When the sleeve is rotated the screws 68 and H are fed into or out of the sleeve as determined by the direction of rotation of said sleeve.

Those skilled in the art will understand that cross-leveling is that operation by which the traversing screw is placed in a horizontal position. This operation, in turn, places the axis of the bore in a plane running vertically through the line on which the mortar is laid.

The operation of the mortar is as follows:

Prior to mounting the mortar, the line of fire must be established and the base plate l9 placed on the ground in proper relationship relative to the said line of fire.

The base plate l9 will be firmly seated in average soil by the recoil of the first two or three rounds. However, when the mortar is to be mounted On a steep slope or on uneven ground, it may be necessary to prepare a horizontal surface upon which the base plate can be placed.

After the line of fire is established and the base plate aligned, the gunner carries the bipod to a position in advance of the base plate and spreads the bipod legs to straddle the line of fire. The gunner then fastens a link of the connecting element 38 to the chain hook 38 and loosens the clamp 55 to position the traversing mechanism 55 in a horizontal position by moving the guide tube 23 to a vertical position. This adjustment is made by sliding the clamp 65 on its leg 24 and tightening the clamp 50. Coarse adjustment in cross-leveling is thus accomplished.

The gunner then moves the saddle 58 to a position to receive the barrel 5.

The assistant gunner connects a desired number of barrel sections together and seats the projection ll of the base cap IS, in the socket l8 of the base plate 19 and moves the barrel forward to rest in the saddle 58 at a selected position on the barrel. The clamping collar is then fastened. in place about the barrel.

The clamps 28, on the legs 2|, are loosened and the extensible leg members 25 are slid in or out of the tubular part 24 for coarse elevational adjustment. This adjustment can be quickly made regardless of the unevenness of the ground surface or the steepness of a hillside on which it is desired to mount the mortar.

Fine adjustment in elevation is accomplished by turning the crank 41 to feed the spindle 53 in or out oi the guide tube 23, as is apparent.

Fine adjustment in cross leveling is accomplished by placing a spanner wrench in the recess 16 in the sleeve '66 f the longitudinally adjustable connecting rod 65. Rotation of said sleeve will s orten or lengthen the connecting rod until the longitudinal axis of the guide tube 23 is in a true vertical position and the longitudinal axis of the traversing mechanism 56 is in a true horizontal position. A suitable level indicating device i7, mounted on the yoke 51 indicates when the true level position is reached.

It will be seen that this same method of procedure can be carried out regardless of whether one, two or three barrel sections, are used.

It is believed that a structure is herein presented which will make possible a single unitary structure, wherein by combining a sectional barrel and an extensible bipod, a weapon of great utility and a broad range of uses is made available.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim;

1. In combination, a gun of the mortar type comprising a plurality of separable axially aligned sections whereby the length of the barrel may be varied, a base plate for supporting one end thereof, a bipod for mounting the gun at a desired angle of fire, a guide tube pivoted to the bipod, cross-leveling mean on the bipod comprising a sleeve slidable on one leg of the bipod, means for securing the sleeve to the leg in a selected position, a longitudinally extensible connecting rod pivoted to the sleeve at one end and to the said guide tube at its other end whereby coarse adjustment is obtained by moving the sleeve on the leg and fine adjustment is obtained by adjusting the longitudinally extensible connecting rod, and means for pivotally connecting the bipod to the gun.

2. In a bipod for mounting a gun barrel of the mortar type at a desired angle of fire, said bipod comprising a line elevation adjustment means pivotally secured to the barrel, a guide tube for housing the said fine elevation adjustment means, pivot elements on the guide tube, each leg of the bipod comprising a tubular member, a yoke secured to one end of the tubular leg member and having its arms apertur d to receive the pivot elements on the guide tube, an extensible leg member housed within said tubular leg member, a clamp on the said tubular leg member at its end opposite to the said pivoting yoke for holding the extensible leg member in a longitudinally adjusted position for coarse elevational adjustment of the barrel, a foot on the outer end of said extensible leg member, an adjustable connecting element for limiting the spread of the legs, and cross-leveling means on the bipod comprising a longitudinally extensible connecting rod pivoted to the said guide tube and to a clamp slidable on one leg of the bipod.

GEORGE B. DAVIS, JR. EDGAR C. ROBERTS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,089,403 Ehrler Mar. 10, 1914 1,361,469 Kingsbury et al. Dec. 7, 1920 1,486,508 Weeks Mar. 11, 1924 1,494,524 Adamson May 20, 1924 1,628,896 Medearis May 17, 1927 2,046,518 Joyce July 7, 1936 2,378,691 Fanger et al. June 19, 1945 2,378,735 Shaffer June 19, 1945 2,451,524 Walker Oct. 19, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 248 Great Britain of 1855 772,224 France Oct. 25, 1934 

